LAUSR

BACKGROUND: Helminthiasis in school-aged children potentially causing physical growth and intellectual development retardation. Trichuriasis was the most common type of helminthiasis in children. AIM: To investigated the efficacy and side effects of albendazole, albendazole combined with levamisole and mebendazole combined with levamisole for trichuriasis and ascariasis. METHODS: This study was conducted as a double-blind, randomised clinical trial by comparing the efficacy and side effects of albendazole, albendazole combined with levamisole and mebendazole combined with levamisole for trichuriasis. The sample of this study were 180 elementary school students at Deli Serdang Regency State Elementary School, Medan, Indonesia. The study was conducted from April to June 2015. RESULT: The cure rate of helminthiasis on the 7th day was 81.7% after albendazole therapy, 88.3% after albendazole levamisole therapy, and 83.3% after mebendazole combined with levamisole therapy (p = 0.577). Cure rate on the 14th day was 88.3%, 95%, and 91.7% for albendazole, albendazole combined with levamisole, and mebendazole combined with levamisole therapy, respectively (p = 0.418). On the 21th day, the cure rate was 88.3%, 96.7%, and 91.7% (p = 0.230). Combination of albendazole and levamisole showed the highest cure rate, despite the statistically insignificant difference for all groups (p > 0.05). Combination of albendazole combined with levamisole showed better cure rate for mild trichuriasis (95.8%) than albendazole therapy (46.2%) and mebendazole combined with levamisole (83.3%), (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Single-dose albendazole, a combination of albendazole and levamisole, and a combination of mebendazole and levamisole had similar efficacy in reducing egg count in helminthiasis. Combination of albendazole and levamisole showed better cure rate for mild trichuriasis and mixed infections. Side effects were similar in all treatment groups.